Valve mechanism



All8 7 1945- i.. A. DlcKENs VALVE MECHANISM Filed April 15, 1944 wwe/wim,

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Patented Aug. 7, 1945 iSfflfl''l?.S PATENT OFFICE] f 2,381,651 vALvr: MECHANISM Lonnie Dickens,-Archdale, AN.. C., assigner to L. A. Dickens Co., Inc., High Point, N. C., a corporation yof North .Carolina Application April-l5, 1944, `Serial No 531,179

` 11 Claims.. ii. cir- 2n The principal object of the present invention is to provide a valve mechanism of [a simple and inexpensive construction in whicha positiveclosing and inter-related movement of all four valves, actuated from a ysingle place, is` obtained.`

While the valve maybe found useful in other envirornents4 and for other purposes, it has been particularly devised for the purpose of reversing the compression-evaporation cyclerof a mechanical refrigeration system; the reversing `of-r `the cycle is for the purpose of absorbing heatfby the evapora-ting of refrigerant within 'the `condenser of the system and expelling this heat bythe compressing and condensing of the refrigerant within the evaporator of the system to melt the frost loose from the evaporator. `f Q Oth'er objects will in part be'obvious and in part' be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides inv those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of par-ts, all of which Will be first described in detail and then be speciicallypointed out in'the appended claims, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawingvi'n Whichf Fig. `1 is a, diagrammatic or schematic view of a refrigerating aparatus embodying my invention.

2 lis a vertical 'section of the valve mech-V anisin on th'e line 2--2 of Figure 4. Fig; 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the structure ,shown in Figure 2.

i Fig. 4 is. an end elevation of the same.

A .In the` drawing in which like numerals and let-` tersof reference indicate like parts in all the gures, which is locatedon evaporator 2, a fan 3, a check valve 4,. an expansion valve 5 with its thermostat 6` connected to it by a duct, T, and a room thermostat 26. A duct 8 connects one end of the evaporator 2 to the ch'eck valve 4 while aldi-1ct 9` connects the other end of lthe evaporator'- 2 to the manifold 5t ofthe valve,` which valve' comprises thesubject of the present invention. I'heexpa'n` sion valve 5 has its. outlet side connected .to duct 8 by a duct I6, lits inlet side is connected by a duct- II to the inlet'side of a second expansion valvey I5 located outside the chamber i I'. The check valve 4 has its outlet side connected, by a duct 3B, to the outlet side of a secondfcheck valve I3also located outsidethe chamber I'. V

A condenser I2 has one end connected byaduct I4 to they inlet side of the checkl valve I3 andits other end connected by a duct 52 to the outlet 48 of lthe reversing Valve. The expansion valve is controlled. by a thermostat Il via"` duct I'Ia and it f has its outlet side'connected bya duct I 6 to'duct I 4.

A receiver I3 has its intake side connectedby a duct I9 with ductfaf, and its outlet side connected bya duct to duct II. i

I represents an insulated chamber in ierred to.

A compressor 2I is driven by a motor 22 one ter'- minal of which is connected by a Wire to line Wire 24 (which line wire is also connected to fan motor 3) while the other terminal of the motor 22 is connected by Wire 3I4 with the iixed contact 2T of the room thermostat 26. The motor 22 drives they compressor 2 I via pulley and belt drive 23 or in any other suitable way.

The thermostat 26 includes the thermally operated contact `29, mounted `at 28,to which the line wire 25 connects, and which in. turn is connected by wire 38 tothe movable contact 36 of the control switch 32. The Xed contact ,21 of room ther--` mostat 26 is connected by a wire 34 tothe fixed contact 33 of fthe switch 32, While the xed contact 35 of that switch is connected tothe fan motor 3 by a wire 31.

The reversing valve mechanism The valve mechanism which constitutesthe gistof my present invention comprisesabase orsuppont 39 having seats I8 to which the valve housing assembly is strapped as at 45. The valve` housing assembly comprises vesections40, 4I, 42,43, and 44 screw threadedtogether end to end with suitable Washers 89 between the joints. `Each section encloses a chamber, the chambers being separated from one another by valvecontrolled passages having seats 53, 54, 55, and 55. l Within the housing section 4I is a double act'- ing valve 59 having seat engaging elements 60 to engage alternately the respectiveseats 53"and 54. Within the housing section isa bellows, an end of which is hermetically secured to the housing section and the other end of which is hermetically secured between the valve stem 64 and the ribbed valve guide 63, the stem 64, guide 63 and valve 59 being iirmly'hcldassembled by means of a bolt 6I that passes through the valve and guides and is threaded into the stem 64 and into a second ribbed valve guide 62 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

IThe outlets 46 and 41 of the end chambers are connected bythe manifold 5I hereinbefore re- The inlet 49 of housing section 4I is connected by a duct 51 to the outlet side of the compressor 2I` while the outlet 50 of the chamber of housing 43 is connected by a duct 58 to the inlet side of the compressor 2|. j j

Within the chamber of housing section 42 is a. valve 6l' having a valve seat engagingelement G8 to engage seat 55. A valve 'I0 is located in the chamber of housing section 44 and has a seat engaging element 'II to engage the seatv 56. The valves 61 and TQ are connected so as to seat'alternately by a fluted or ribbed guide 6.6.l A bellows, located in the chamber of the end section 44, is hermetically secured aty one end to4 the housing and at its other vend to valve 1D, by means of a bolt 66a that is threaded into the nut 69,' passes through valve 61, guide 66, valve 18 and is threaded into valve stem 12. The valve stems 64 and 12 have split heads 84 and 14 respectively.

15 is a lever which is fulcrumed at 16 to a post 11 on support 39 and is pivoted at 85a to head 14. An operating lever 83 is similarly pivoted at 85 to head 84. A connecting rod or link 18 is pivoted at one end, as at 19a to lever 15. At; its

other end 80 the link 19 is slotted and is connected to lever 83 by a pin 82 passing through slot 8| of link 19. Link 19 is also connected withlever 83 by a stout spring 86. As will be seen by reference to Figure 2, the lever 83 is designed to cooperate with switch 32 whose spring-loaded rod 88 engages (preferably) a socket or recess in lever 83 so that when lever 83 is moved to its defrosting position spring-loaded rod 88 will shift the switch element 36 from point 35 to point 33 to open the Operation,

f, Figures land 2 show the normalpositions of the parts. `With the parts in normal position the system acts .to cool the evaporator 2 and chamber I. The arrows in Figure l show the direction of flow of the refrigerant.

y When the lever 83 is freeof restraint, i. e. when no outside force is applied to it or no device is holding it, the lever is drawn by spring 86 toward link 19. This movement will carry pin 82 of lever 83 Vtothe inner end of the Slot 8|; then the end.:of the lever 83 which is pivoted to the valve stem 64V is .drawn outwardly, taking with it the valve stem 64 and the double acting valve 59. This action closes the passage between the housing sections 48 and 4| and opens the passage between sections 4| and 42 (see Figure 2). y.With the valve device in the normal position (Figure 2) hot refrigerant gases, which are being pumped bythe compressor pass-from the dischargeside of the compressor through duct 51 into the chamber of valve housing section 4| and thence via section 42 to condenser I2. From the condenser I2 the fluid passes into theA receiver I8 from which it flows, via ducts 28, II, to eX- pansion valve 5 and from thence through evaporator2 and back to compressor 2| via the chamber ,of valve housing sections 44, 43 and the open passage between such sections.

vWhen lever 83 is moved by some outside force in the direction opposing the pull of the spring 86, pin 82 is drawn against the far end of the slot 8| and upon further movement of the operating end of lever 83 in the direction away from the spring, link 19 is drawn with it. Also lever 15 and rod valve stem 12 are moved which lifts valve 61 on seat 55 and tension of spring 86 actling upon linkv1'9 snaps the entire assembly and movesvalve 1I)V to engage seat 56 and close the passage between the chamber of housing sections 44 and 43. This snap action is permitted by the travel of the pin 82 in the slot 8|. After the above mentioned snap of the assembly (link 1'8, lever 15, valve stem 12 and valves 18 and 61) pin 82 is again at the near end of slot 8 I, but upon further motion of lever 83 away from pull of spring, pin 82 is again drawn against the far end of slot 8| and as valve is now seated against its seat 56, link 18 and assembly can move no farther under the force acting on the operating end of the lever 83 and which is transmitted through pin 82 against the far end of slot 8| and also through increased tension on spring 19.

The pin 82 now becomes the stationary fulcrum of the lever 83. Continued movement of lever 83 toward the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, causes valve 59 to leave its seat 53 and spring 86 snaps valve 59 onto its seat 54. After this latter snap action of spring 86 pin 82 is again against the inner end of the slot 8| but as the operating lever is drawn slightly further to engage latch 81 pin 82 is moved approximately midway in slot 8 I, thereby drawing slightly more ,tension on spring 86 which firmly holds valve 59 on its seat via lever 83 and stem 64, and holds valve 10 on its seat 56, vialink 19, lever 15 and stem v12. 'I'his latter position described is the reversed or defrost position of the valve device and in said position the hot gases from the compressor pass into the chamber of section 4| and from thence via chamber of section 48 to the evaporator 2from thence via valve 4, receiver I8, expansion valve I5, condenser I2 and back to compressor 2| via the chambers of sections 42 and 43'.

When the defrosting process shall have been completed and the latch 81 pressed to release lever 83 spring 86 will draw lever 83 over and cause the restoration of the valve device to normal position.

In addition to the other advantages noted before it will be noted that a snap action of each of theftwo valve assemblies is incidental to this type actuation.

It will be further noted that the operation of this. valve device is further aided by the pressure uctuations in the evaporator of the system and this action is as follows: When the evaporator is in need of defrosting its temperature and corresponding refrigerant pressure is low, consequently the pressure exerted within the chambers of sections 40 and 44 upon the bellows 65 and 13 is low and therefore requires very little if any force to move them inward as is necessary in moving the valves to defrosting position. After the evaporator has been warmed suflicient1y to defrost it a higher pressure is created init and chambers of sections 40 and 44 which has a tendency to force bellows and 13 outward and thereby assist in moving the valve back to normal position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. f

What I claim is:

l. In avalve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a centralchamber, two end chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the -end chambers, and passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; two valve devices in said housing, one of said devices controlling communication between one of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto, the other of said devices controlling communication between the other of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding said valve devices in posltions normally to maintain one intermediate chamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintain the other of said intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber and in communication with aforesaid means for shifting said vvalve devices to effect communication between said one of said intermediate chambers and the adjacent end chamber and close off communication between that intermediate chamber and the central chamber and to open communication between said central chamber and the other intermediate chamber and close communication between the latter intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber; and an outlet for each chamber.

2. In avalve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, two end chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the end chambers, and passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; `two valve devices in said housing, one of said devices controllingcommunication between one of said intermediate chambers andthe central and end chamber adjacenttheretoythe ,other o said devicescontrolling communication between the other of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding said valve devices in positions normally to maintain one intermediatechamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintain the other of saidA intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber andin communication with-its end chamber; and means cooperating with the aforesaid means for shifting said valve devices to effect communication vbetween said one of said intermediate chambers andthe adjacent end chamber and close oir `communication between that intermediate chamber and the central chamber and to open communicationbetween saidl central chamber and the other intermediate chamber and close communicationbetween the latter intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber; and an outlet for each chamber; and means cooperative with theaforesaid means for imparting a snap action to said valve devices `as they are being shifted from one position to the other. t

3. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, two end chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber-and the end chambers, and passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; -two valve devices in said. housing, one of said de*- vices controlling communication between` one of 'said intermediate chambers and the central and endy chamber adjacent thereto, the other of said devices controlling communication between the -other of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding said valve devices in positions normally to maintain one intermediate chamber out of communication withits end chamber and maintain the other of said intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber and in communication with its Aend chamber; and means cooperating with the afore-` said means for shifting said valve devices to effect 4communication between said one oisaid intermediate chambers and the adjacent endchanrr-- ber and close off communication betwe'enthat irltermediate chamber andthe central, chamber and to open communication between said central chamber and the other intermediate chamber and close communication between the latter intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber; and an outlet for each chamber; and means to hold said valves devices in their abnormal or reversed position.

4. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, two end chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the end chambers, and passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; two valve devices in said housing, one of said devices controlling communication between one of said intermediate chambers and thecentral and end chamber adjacent thereto, the other of said devices controlling communicatio'n between the other of said intermediate chambers and the centralv and end chamber adjacent thereto; means 'normally holding said valve devices in positions normally to maintain one intermediate chamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintain th-e other of said intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber and in communication with its end chamber; and means cooperative with the aforesaid means for moving said valve devices from theiry normal positions to an opposite position, said means including mechanism for rst shifting one of said valve devices toreversed position and then shifting the other of said valve devices to its reversed position. I

5. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, twoend` chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the end cham-bers, and' passages with valve seats between the respective cham- 35 bers; two valve devices in said housing, one of said devices controlling communication between one of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto, the other of said devices controlling communication between the other of said intermediate cham-bers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding said valve devices in positions normally t0 maintain one intermediate chamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintainthe other of said' intermediate chambers out of communication with 'said central chamber and. in communication with its end chamber; and' means cooperative with the afore said' means for moving said valve devices from their normall positionsto any opposite position, said means including mechanism for first shifting one of said valve devices to reversed position and then shifting the other of' said valve devices to its reversed position; and means cooperative with the aforesaid means for imparting snap action to said valve devices in passing from one position to the other.

6. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, two end `chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the end chambers, and" passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; two valve devices in said housing, one of saiddevices controlling communication between one lof said intermediate chambers and the central and end -chamber adjacentthereto, the other of said devices controlling communication between the other of said intermediate chambers and the cen-- tral and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding said valve devices in positions vlnormally to maintain. one intermediate chamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintain the other of said intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber and in communication with its end chamber, said holding means including a valve stem for each valve device, a lever with a fixed fulcrum pivoted to one of said stems, a oating lever pivoted to the other stem, a link pivoted to said xed-fulcrum lever, a pin and slot connection between said floating lever and said link, and a spring joining said floating lever` and said link, said oating lever being shiftable to effect a valve-position-changing action.

7. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a support; a valve housing embodying a central chamber, two end chambers and intermediate chambers located between the central chamber and the end chambers, and passages with valve seats between the respective chambers; two valve devices in said housing, one of said devices controlling communication between one of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber` adjacent thereto, the other of said devices controlling communication between the other of said intermediate chambers and the central and end chamber adjacent thereto; means normally holding saidvalve devicesin positions normally to maintain one intermediate chamber out of communication with its end chamber and maintain the other of said intermediate chambers out of communication with said central chamber and in communication with its end chamber; and meansl cooperating with the aforesaid means for shifting said valve devices to effect communication between said one of said intermediate chambers and the adjacent end chamber and close off communication between that intermediate chamber and the central chamber and to opten communication vbetween said central chamber and the other intermediate chamber and close communication between the latter intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber; and an loutletV for each chamber; said one of said valve devices comprising a double-acting valve in an intermediate chamber, a valve stem passing throughA the adjacent end chamber, a bellows in the end chamber hermetically connected at one of its endsto the valve and at its other end to the housing and 'embracing said valve stem; the other of said valve devices comprising a valvein said central chamber, a Valve in the other end chamber, a valve stem joining the last two` mentioned valves and passing through the other end chamber, a bellows in said other end chamber her- Imetically connected at one of its ends to said last named valve stem and at its other end to the housing and embracing the last named valve stem; and'means cooperating with the aforesaid means for shifting said valve devices to reverse their operative positions.

8. In a valve mechanismof the'character described: a valve housing composed of a central section, two end sections,l and two intermediate sections hermetically secured together, said housing sections providing ve serially disposed chambers with passage between the several chambers, which passages have valve seats; two valve de- :vices one of which devices controls the passages 4between one intermediate chamber and the central chamber and between the said intermediate .chamber and the adjacent end chamber while the other controls the passages betweenv the other intermediate chamber and said central chamber and between the said other intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber; and means operatively connecting said valve devices together to'hold them in a predetermined normal position; and means cooperative withsaidiholdingmeans for moving said valve devices 'toy a reverse position. .,9. In a valve mechanism yof the` character described: a valve housing composed ofacentral section, two end sections, and two intermediate sections hermetically secured together, said housing sections providing five serially disposed chambers .with passage between the several chambers, which passages have valve seats; two valve devicesone Aof'which devices controls the passages between one intermediate chamberandthe central chamber and between. the said intermediate chamber and the adjacent end chamber while the other controls the passages between the, other intermediate chamber and said central chamber and between the said other intermediate chamber` and the adjacent end chamber; and means operatively connctinglsaid valve devices together to hold them in a predeterminedI normal position; and means cooperative with said holding means for moving said valve devices to a reverse position; means cooperative with ,the aforesaid means for imparting a snap action tosaid valve devices in moving from one position to the other.A e

10. In a valve mechanism of the Vcharacterdescribed: a valve housing composed of a chamber'ed central section, two chambered end sections and two chambered intermediate sections detachably secured together in axial alignment and having outlets, the central and intermediate sections having passages with valve seats; a double acting valve in one intermediate chamber` to alternately engage the valve seat of that intermediate section and the valve seat of the Acentral section; a Valve in the central section for'cooperation with the valve seat of the'other intermediate` section which seat is adjacent the central section; a valve in the'end chamber which is adjacent the last named intermediate section for cooperation with another valve seat of said other intermediate section; means for joining said last named two valves to seat alternately and move as one; means continuously tending to hold said valves seated in a predetermined normal position; and means cooperating with the aforesaid means for moving said valves to a predetermined reverse position. 11.. In a valve mechanism of the character described: a valvevhousing composed of a chambered central section, two chambered end sections and two rchambered intermediate sections detachably secured together in axial alignment and having outlets, the central and intermediate sections having passages with valve seats; a double acting valve in one intermediate chamber to alternately engage the valve seat of that intermediate secvtion and the valve seat of the central section; a

valve in the central section for cooperation with.

lsaid'valves to a predetermined reverse position;

and means for releasably holding said last named means in its Valve-reversed position,

LONNIE A." DIcKENs. 

